THE Surrey Police Service on Wednesday said in a statement that its Executive Management Team are taking time out of the day-to-day operations of building the organization to add their voice to a very important issue of anti-bullying.
It said: “Today, Pink Shirt Day, brings to the foreground the message that none of us deserve or should be subjected to bullying for any reason in any environment.
“The Pink Shirt Day message like all other years is important, timely and serves as a necessary reminder to all of us to work together and treat others with dignity and respect. This past year, perhaps more than most, has undoubtedly highlighted our need to “lift each other up” helping one another and advocating for those who need it.
“Unfortunately, so many have either experienced bullying directly or have observed it happening to others, neither is acceptable.”
Chief Constable Norm Lipinski said: “As a new police service, the Executive Management Team see it as valuable and important to engage with our community today to affirm that the Surrey Police Service is establishing an organizational culture of diversity, inclusion, equity and respect for all those we work with and serve in the community. It is important that we all do our part to encourage healthy self esteem, empathy, compassion, and kindness within ourselves and show it to others.”
The Surrey Police Service said it salutes the two grade 12 students, from Nova Scotia, who took the simple but courageous step of standing up for a grade 9 student mocked for wearing a pink shirt. “This simple but meaningful act of two is now a global movement! Let’s all do our part and lift each other up today and everyday,” it added.